Coral Pink Sand Dunes

It has been almost a month ago now but we were able to go down to Coral Pink Sand Dunes for the weekend. My family has done this every year since I was young. We had a great time camping and riding the ATV's.

Makenna posing with her helmet on.

Ready for a ride.

Makenna loved to ride with Grandpa Ballard. She tells us she would rather go with Grandpa than Daddy because "he rides up the BIG cliffs."

Water Fight!! Here are the kids going after my brother Brandon!

Oh how dirty camping can be!

Another pose with the helmet on.

The guys out on the dunes.

Will they all fit?

Makenna and Maren on the ATV.

Baby Shower

A few weeks ago we had a baby shower for my sister Alise. She will be having a baby girl in July. We are all so excited for her. Makenna was so excited to come with me to the baby shower. After everyone started to show up and we were all just visiting Makenna says to me "All you do at a baby shower is talk?" It was really funny, I guess these grown up parties just aren't as fun. I think she did have a good time though!

This is my cousin Brianne, me, and my sister.

Me and Alise.

Me, my mom, and my sister.

Zions and St. George

A few weekends ago we decided to go down to St. George and Zions just to get away and do something fun. We left early Friday Morning and spent the day in St. George. We also visited a ghost town called Grafton. I have ancestors who are from Grafton. On Saturday we spent the day in Zions. We went on a few hikes. It was way fun and Makenna did awesome! Every time I ask Makenna what the funnest part of the trip was, she tells me "swimming at the hotel!" I think we could have done that all day and she would have been happy!

Here we are in Grafton in front of one of the old homes.

This is the church/school house and one of the homes in Grafton.

As we were driving to Grafton we saw these ostriches and decided to pull over and get a closer look.

We went to the St. George Temple and walked around the grounds.

These are pictures from some of our hikes in Zions.

One of the hikes was called Emerald Pools. Makenna had fun dipping her feet in the water.

Our family at the top of emerald pools.

Bees...

About a month ago we officially became owners of a new pet...bees! Dallin has been so excited for them. We have talked about getting a beehive for a long time and it finally happened. My dad was nice enough to let us use his beehive and we got the bees about a month ago. They are doing really well, keeping busy!! Hopefully they will help out with the garden and flowers and we will get some honey!

Dallin the beekeeper!

Here is our garden so far this year. Hopefully the snow the other day didn't totally kill it off. We have planted radishes, beets, lettuce, onions, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, lemon cucumbers, basil, cilantro, peas, tomatoes, and peppers. We also planted cantelope, watermelon, and pumpkins but I think we may have lost them from the snow.

Here are the busy bees!

My Sweet Grandma

On May 4, 2010 my sweet Grandma left this earth to go HOME. She has been suffering the last little while and I am happy she is now in a much better place. I am going to miss her so much, but I am thankful that I have so many memories of her. She was the most loving person you could ever meet. She genuinely loved everyone around her, especially her family. She would quite often call me just to say hi and to tell me that she loved me. I will never forget those phone calls. Just a couple of months ago she sent Makenna a card in the mail. All it said was "Grandma Ballard loves you." I could tell she struggled to write it, but it just shows how much she loves her family. I love you Grandma, you will be greatly missed!

This is a picture of my Grandma with some of her Great-grandkids. She loves them so much!

Some of the great-grandkids at the funeral.

Here is her obituary from the paper:

Violet Vivian Hicks Ballard 12/20/1921~05/04/2010

Violet Vivian Hicks, our wonderful wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma, went home to our Heavenly Father May 4, 2010.She was born December 20, 1921 in Rural Retreat, VA. Married Merlin W. Ballard on December 17, 1945 in Wythville, VA where he was discharged from the Navy and then brought her to Salt Lake City, Utah where he was from. She was a convert and devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church and her family were her life. She was all about loving, serving and doing for others. Always there for everyone! Therefore much loved by all. She served in every capacity in the Church from Relief Society Pres, Service Missionary, serving a mission in Australia with her husband, to teaching primary at age 80 and those children loved her so. Genealogy was her hobby, being a convert to the Church it was so important to her. She is survived by her husband Merlin W. Ballard, children Chery Pannier (Scott), son Scott (Nancy) and Barby Valentine (Kelly), 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Hillcrest 5th Ward, 915 East 9045 South on Sat., May 8th at 12:00 p.m. Viewing will be held the morning of the service from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment Elysian Burial Gardens.

This is the program from the funeral:

Makenna's Piano Recital

On Monday night Makenna had her very first piano recital. She played two songs, "London Bridge" and "Scotland's Burning." She did an amazing job and seemed so confident while she was up there performing. Way to go Makenna!! Here are some pictures at the recital hall...

I recorded Makenna playing her pieces after we got home... When I get a copy of the actual recital I will have to post that video too.

A Fun Easter

We had a good Easter this year. Makenna ended the day by saying, " I had a fun Easter!" On Saturday we went to Grandma Ballard's for and Easter Brunch and party for the kids. Then on Sunday we had our Easter Egg hunt at Grandma Price's house.

Who knew we would be having an Easter Egg Hunt in the SNOW at Grandma's house.

Makenna and her cousins

Coloring Easter eggs at Grandma's house

Here is Makenna on Easter Morning. It looks like the Easter Bunny showed up. She was spoiled with WAY too much candy. Every year the Easter Bunny brings Makenna a new movie. This year it was The Princess and the Frog.

Makenna wanted to set out some carrots for the Easter Bunny. It looks like he left some crumbs.

The Easter eggs Makenna found that the Easter Bunny hid for her to find.

Makenna in her new Easter dress. Since Sunday was General Conference I told her she didn't need to wear her dress until next Sunday. She wouldn't go for that. She said, " But it's Easter, I have to wear it today!"